Manny Ramirez still is trying to get back into baseball, and the former Red Sox slugger made his case on Wednesday when he hit a home run on the first pitch he saw from Escogido Lions right-hander Daniel Cabrera in his debut for the Los Aguilas Eagles of the Dominican winter league.

A packed house estimated at 22,000 turned out to see Ramirez return to play in his home country for the first time since the winter of 1994-95, and the fans went wild when Ramirez drilled a fastball over the right-field fence to give his team a 1-0 lead.

The Lakers reportedly had an abrupt change of heart when they hired former Suns and Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni to replace Mike Brown, and the news did not sit well with the legendary Phil Jackson, who many thought was headed back to the bench.

Antonio Cromartie is “still confident” about his playoff guarantee despite the Jets’ latest embarrassment, a 28-7 loss to the Seahawks in Seattle that dropped New York to 3-6. Rex Ryan, meanwhile, said he isn’t rethinking his quarterback situation. Despite an anemic offensive performance (the only touchdown came from the defense), the Jets will stick with Mark Sanchez.

It’s been a difficult season for the Jets, who sit at 3-5, but cornerback Antonio Cromartie remains confident in his team and his coach, who earlier this week was named most overrated coach in a poll of NFL players.

The Lakers are 1-4 after Wednesday's 95-86 loss to the Jazz in Salt Lake City, and Kobe Bryant, who only days ago was ripping impatient critics, is having trouble containing his frustration with everyone around him.

Bryant played Wednesday night with an anger he acknowledged he had not displayed in a while, although he wouldn't say the reason for his motivation.

"Nothing I care to share," said Bryant, who finished with 29 points and six turnovers.

Veteran Lakers guard Steve Blake was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for using inappropriate language toward one of the team’s front-row fans during Friday night’s loss to the Clippers at Staples Center.

The Sporting News conducted a midseason poll of 103 NFL players from 27 teams to determine the most overrated coach in the league. Much to Patriots fans' delight, coming in at No. 1, named on 35 ballots, is Jets coach Rex Ryan. However, in second with 16 votes is Pats boss Bill Belichick. Andy Reid of the Eagles is third with nine votes.